Minister Tsai, Chuen-Horng
Chairman of AEC

Dr. Chuen-Horng Tsai was sworn in as the Minister and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Council on May 20, 2008, under the new administration of the R.O.C. government.

Dr. Tsai, 58, has devoted most of his career life to teaching and research in the fields of nuclear engineering and nuclear materials. Before joining AEC, he was distinguished professor of the National Tsing Hua University. From 1982 to 2008, Dr. Tsai worked and served at NTHU as associate professor, professor, chairman and director of nuclear engineering programs, dean for the office of student affairs and dean for the college of nuclear science.

While devoting to the academia, Dr. Tsai has also been actively lending his expertise to serve in such capacities as member and chair of a number of AEC's advisory committees on safety of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials during 1999-2008, and as advisor and consultant to the Industrial Technology Research Institute during 1984-1990 and 2003-2007.

As new chairman, Dr. Tsai encouraged all AEC colleagues to practice environmental protection diligently in everyday life and to serve as an environmentalist for nuclear energy. While praising AEC for its well-established regulatory framework and staff capability, he also stressed the importance of attracting young professionals and providing high-quality and state-or-the-art training to employees so as to meet future regulatory challenges.

Dr. Tsai holds a bachelor's degree from the National Tsing Hua University and a master's and doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, U.S.A., all in nuclear engineering. He has published more than 300 technical papers and presentations, holds ten patents, and has received numerous honors and awards for excellent papers and outstanding research accomplishments. His research interests and specialties include: nano-materials, fuel cells, electrochemistry, corrosion and stress corrosion and plasma assisted materials processing.

Personal Data
Born in 1950
Married

Education
Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA (1981)
M.S., Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA (1975)
B.S., Nuclear Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (1972)

Experiences
2007 - Distinguished Professor, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)
1995 - 2007 Professor, Department of Engineering and System Sciences, NTHU
1995 - 1998 Dean, College of Nuclear Science, NTHU
1994 - 1995 Professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, NTHU
1991 - 1994 Dean, Office of Student Affairs, NTHU
1986 - 1989 Chairman/Director, Department/Institute of Nuclear Engineering, NTHU
1986 - 1994 Professor, Institute of Nuclear Engineering, NTHU
1982 - 1986 Associate Professor, Institute of Nuclear Engineering, NTHU

Other Services (Selected)
Member, Advisory Committee on Radioactive Materials Safety, Atomic Energy Council (AEC) (2006 - 2008)
Member/Chair, Advisory Committee on Nuclear Facility Safety, AEC (1999 - 2003, 2008)
Member, Advisory Committee on Nuclear Safety of Lungmen Station, AEC (2004 - 2008)
Consultant, Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) (2003)
Consultant, Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, ITRI (1984 - 1990, 2004 - 2007)

Honors and Awards (Selected)
Excellent Paper Awards, Corrosion Engineering Association (1998, 2001, 2006)
Top-rank Financial Award for Principal Investigators, National Science Council (2005)
Excellent Principal Investigator Awards of NSC/AEC Collaborative Projects (2004-2005)
Industry-Academy Collaboration Award, Ministry of Education (2003)
Distinguished Technical Paper Award, Chinese Institute of Engineers (2002)
Excellent Paper Award, Chung Hwa Nuclear Society (1997)
Outstanding Research Awards, National Science Council (1989-1990)
Excellent Topical Research Accomplishment Awards, Atomic Energy Council (1992, 1995)

Expertise
Nano-Materials (Carbon Nanotube), Fuel Cells, Electrochemistry, Corrosion and Stress Corrosion, Plasma Assisted Materials Processing.